–through Mohabir Mookerchand Persaud Foundation for Excellence

By Nafeeza Yahya

JC CHANDISINGH Secondary School (JCCSS) students can now access funding to assist them to complete school, thanks to the launching of the Mohabir Mookerchand Persaud (MMP) Foundation for Excellence.The Foundation which came into being last week was launched by founder Mohabir Persaud, a former JC Chandisingh Secondary School student in the school’s auditorium.

According to Persaud, the Foundation seeks to assist students, who due to circumstances beyond their control, lack financial resources necessary to complete their studies.

Students from Grades 7-11, who are desirous of funding, can submit a request in the form of a letter via email to mmpfoundation@gmail.com detailing their situation.

Persaud said while the Foundation will accept students that are disadvantaged financially, they must be doing well academically with at least a 65 per cent or above grade to be considered.

He explained that the requests will be evaluated by members of the Foundation’s Board and funding will be provided accordingly.

“We will accept students who are deprived financially but with good academic standing… my hope is that students from JC will be given priority for now but later expand to all schools in Region six,” he said.

While noting that the Foundation is in its initial stages, Persaud said it will seek to address issues of mental health and homophobia later on.

His hope is that others, especially the Guyanese diaspora, will be inspired to effect change in the lives of children who are suffering to get an education.

The first beneficiary of the foundation is Mahendra Phagwah from Number 2 Village, East Canje, who will received full funding to sit 16 subjects at the next sitting of CSEC examinations.

In his remarks, Phagwah struggled to contain tears and also had members of the audience in tears when he detailed the struggles he endured from being one of the top students at his primary school to dropping out and now finally given a chance to obtain a secondary education.

Phagwah stated that he was awarded a place at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, but being poverty-stricken due to his parents being disabled, he sought a transfer to Berbice High School where he rode daily to school.

He was forced to stop riding due to a heart condition and was unable to attend school regularly because of to financial constraints.

The young man recalled many nights going to bed with little or nothing to eat nor to take to school the following day, while some of his friends were well equipped with the “best bags and books”.

He was forced to drop out in 2014 after he felt the pressure was too much and he opted for a job to earn himself some money.

His desire to continue and get a secondary education led to him meeting with a teacher from JCCSS and subsequently the Region six Education Department.

He was readmitted into the education system and now with the funding from the Foundation, he can now sit the examinations in a few months’ time.

Phagwah stated that he is elated beyond words to be given the opportunity he was given and hopes that the launching of the Foundation will touch as many lives as possible.

He called on the members and founder of the Foundation to try and assist “every single student that stretches their hand in need of help to you”, noting that “no child should be turned down; no child should be deprived of an education”.

He thanked the Foundation for its help, noting that it “undoubtedly would have a positive impact on the lives of our youths and in return provide better communities”.

Aside from the launching of the MMP Foundation for Excellence, Persaud has provided financing to repaint his alma mater and to install an air-condition unit in the headteacher’s office.

Ten students were also awarded certificates of commitment to assist in their studies.

Regional Education Officer, Valika Jaikishun thanked the Foundation for investing in education.